Wichita, Kan. - It was a historic weekend for the Central Methodist Men's Wrestling program, as they competed in the 2023 NAIA National Championships in Wichita, Kan. 

The Eagles took a program record five national qualifiers to participate in the two-day event. Central ended the champioship with two NAIA All-Americans in Donald Griffin (157 pounds) and Elijah Hynes (197 pounds). The duo became the first NAIA All-Americans in the history of the program. 

Central compiled 33.5 team points, placing 14th out of 58 teams. Central posted the second highest finish of any team in the Heart of America, only after No. 1 Grand View University, who won the team championships. It marks the highest finish of any CMU team in program history. 

Along with Griffin and Hynes, Colton King (125 pounds), Jason Shaw (133 pounds), and Brenden Shelton (285 pounds) also competed for CMU. 

After dropping his first matchup against No. 1 Esco Walker of Grand View, King rattled off back-to-back wins over the No. 15 and No. 10 wrestlers in the country. He would finish the championship with a loss to No. 5 Isaac Crowell of Southeastern. 

Shaw also overcame first match loss by rattling off three straight victories there after to stay alive in the consolation bracket. Shaw would ultimately fall to Joe Lupton of Graceland by a 7-3 Decision. 

Griffin finished the championship with a 6-2 overall record, highlighted by wins over the No. 3, No. 9, No. 13 and No. 15 wrestlers in the country. Griffin was just narrowly defeated by No. 1 Giovanni Bonilla of Grand View by a close 5-3 Decision in the third place match, earning All-America honors. 

Hynes had a solid showing in his first national championship as a freshman, finishing the event with a 4-3 record. He picked up victories over the No. 8 and No. 11 grapplers in the country at 197 pounds to place eighth and earn All-America honors. 

Shelton finished the tournament with a 1-2 overall record at 285 pounds. He concludes his time with Central as a three-time NAIA National Qualifier, the most by an Eagle in program history. 

To view the full results for CMU at the NAIA Men's Wrestling National Championships, please see below. 

125 Pounds

Colton King's place is unknown and has scored 3.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 1 Esco Walker (Grand View) won by decision over Colton King (Central Methodist) (Dec 16-9)
• Cons. Round 1 - Colton King (Central Methodist) received a bye () (Bye)
• Cons. Round 2 - Colton King (Central Methodist) won in sudden victory - 1 over 15 Matthew Terrance (Vanguard) (SV-1 12-10)
• Cons. Round 3 - Colton King (Central Methodist) won by fall over 10 Esau Bazilme (Southeastern) (Fall 2:09)
• Cons. Round 4 - 5 Isaac Crowell (Southeastern) won by fall over Colton King (Central Methodist) (Fall 5:59)

133 Pounds 

12 Jason Shaw's place is unknown and has scored 7.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Devin Avedissian (Doane) won by decision over 12 Jason Shaw (Central Methodist) (Dec 6-1)
• Cons. Round 1 - 12 Jason Shaw (Central Methodist) won by fall over Donavan Parn (Missouri Valley) (Fall 2:06)
• Cons. Round 2 - 12 Jason Shaw (Central Methodist) won by fall over 11 Elijah Anthony (Indiana Tech) (Fall 4:36)
• Cons. Round 3 - 12 Jason Shaw (Central Methodist) won by tech fall over 14 Joel Avila (Providence) (TF 20-3)
• Cons. Round 4 - 8 Joe Lupton (Graceland) won by decision over 12 Jason Shaw (Central Methodist) (Dec 7-3)

157 Pounds 

10 Donald Griffin's place is 4th and has scored 12.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over Drake Vannoy (Oklahoma City) (Dec 4-3)
• Champ. Round 2 - 7 Abraham Del Toro (Menlo) won by decision over 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) (Dec 6-3)
• Cons. Round 2 - 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over Eli Clemmons (Cumberland) (Dec 7-2)
• Cons. Round 3 - 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over 15 Aden Graves (Providence) (Dec 3-2)
• Cons. Round 4 - 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over 13 Noah Styskal (Morningside) (Dec 6-5)
• Cons. Round 5 - 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over 9 Trevor Burdick (Reinhardt) (Dec 3-2)
• Cons. Semi - 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) won by decision over 3 Nate Wheeler (Indiana Tech) (Dec 3-2)
• 3rd Place Match - 1 Giovanni Bonilla (Grand View) won by decision over 10 Donald Griffin (Central Methodist) (Dec 5-3)

197 Pounds 

16 Elijah Hynes's place is 8th and has scored 7.5 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) won by decision over Jacob Brandt (Indiana Tech) (Dec 5-2)
• Champ. Round 2 - 1 Zane Lanham (Life) won by decision over 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) (Dec 6-2)
• Cons. Round 2 - 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) won by fall over Branson Bottorff (William Penn) (Fall 2:18)
• Cons. Round 3 - 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) won by decision over 8 Grayson Stevens (Campbellsville) (Dec 3-2)
• Cons. Round 4 - 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) won by decision over 11 Carl Hansen (Montana State - Northern) (Dec 2-1)
• Cons. Round 5 - 15 Nathan Critchfield (Indiana Tech) won by decision over 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) (Dec 9-7)
• 7th Place Match - 9 Tucker Tomlinson (Ottawa) won by decision over 16 Elijah Hynes (Central Methodist) (Dec 4-0)

285 Pounds 

Brenden Shelton's place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points.

• Champ. Round 1 - Brenden (Central Methodist) won by fall over 11 Benito Hernandez (Ottawa) (Fall 1:11)
• Champ. Round 2 - 6 Joshua Isaac (Missouri Valley) won by decision over Brenden (Central Methodist) (Dec 9-4)
• Cons. Round 2 - Jaden Sonner (Campbellsville) won by fall over Brenden (Central Methodist) (Fall 1:28)

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